while claiming he still likes and gets on with everyone he worked with there, especially the owner. Hmmm ...

I still feel sorry for him. Yes, his record in terms of games to wins/points was good, but even after two years to think about it he still hasn't realised he went because he made batshit tactical decisions ...

I love Carragher but, come on, you can't throw a fit and say "I'm not playing for England" and take NO part in any match up until the World Cup and then accept the call when the final squad's being sorted... Capello has gone down in my estimations on this decision alone. And if this means that Jagielka's not going to SAfrica then I'm all the more angry.

i'm not sure if i agree with that to be honest. finished 12th, behind blackburn, birmingham and even stoke. sure, they've made it to the final of the europa league, which is fair enough, but ancelotti might be about to do the double in his first season <insert argument about the chelsea team being able to win the league without a manager etc here> so i'd probs give it to him.

performance I'd agree with you, on overall performance I think Roy deserves it. They started in the Europa League back in July, have knocked out the holders, Juve and German champions along the way and all done on a relatively small squad and budget.

But of the teams they’ve beaten in Europe the best came from a country with only one other good side (Shaktar) and the rest were underachieving in their own country – Hamburg sacked their manager in between the ties, Wolfsburg finished in the German league in a similar position to Fulham in England, and Juventus are a terrible side whose season has made Liverpool’s look good.

If they get beaten by Atl Madrid then I hope he has his award forcibly removed, since they’re fucking dire as well.

...but the sheer amount of games they've played with a reasonably sized squad which hasn't had a significant amount of investment is an achievement in itself. Chelsea have got a squad to deal with that kind of thing. Fulham haven't.

Also, let's not forget that at the half-way stage of the Europa, all of the Champions League rejects get dumped in and Fulham are in the final above all of them lot having been in the competition at the very, very start. This is also a great achievement.

I'm no Hodgson/Fulham apologist. I just think that his achievements this year are more notable than Ancelotti's when looked at comparitively. That's not to say Ancelotti's not done very well mind - he is the only other candidate worthy of the award by an absolute mile.

I think that sort of award should be for managers whose teams have punched massively above their weight, and there's really only two candidates - Redknapp and Hodgson. I doubt Ancelotti will particularly care anyway, being on the brink of winning the double.

He inherited a fine squad and was given £££ to bolster it. He has done, and 4th place is a very good achievement but there's no punching above weight there. Spurs have spent heavily, poached a decent manager and have got the league position to reflect that.

got through a group with Roma, 1st/2nd in Serie A, wolfsburg won the german league last year, shaktar are the holders, sacking managers often galvanises teams so I don't think that argument can be used... we have had the hardest run of any club, with a tiny squad of players that have only done so well because they are 100% dedicated, to each other and mostly to Roy Hodgson. you do us a massive dis-service... but to be honest you're about the only person I've seen with this opinion. The overwhelming majority of football supporters in this country have been hugely complimentary and will be supporting Fulham in the final - which is rare for supporters from other clubs to do. but that's a recognition of our achievement... and in particular roy hodgson. so yes, you are a nobber.

they said that Redknapp will be only the 4th English manager to take a club into the Champions League.

I'm having quite a hard time thinking of who the other 3 might be. Keegan is one I'm guessing. Did Roy Evans ever take Liverpool to the Champions League? Was he even English? Are they counting McLaren?

Ominous Sentence Of The Day
From the Daily Mirror: '"Frank has been friercely private about his romance with Christine but he chose Sunday evening to go public about their releationship - and introduced her to all the players, including his close mate, JT."'

alongside typical reaction to the news that we could have a transfer budget of £0.00 (ie, we should be in europe and that means spending back), the news that Jose Enrique is one of the most highly regarded and talented young left-backs in the country today and picture of me in a velvet suit.

Then again, I don't suppose any division deserves to house both Cardiff AND Leeds. Maybe Cardiff going up and Millwall getting fucked in their play off would be best for everyone. May as well spread the misery out.